Parul Bali, Ph.D.
Dr.Bali obtained her Ph.D. from the Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research. Her primary mentor is Paramita Chakrabarty.
Dr. Bali’s research interest includes understanding the factors affecting amyloid and tau etiopathologies in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease.
John Aaron Howell, Ph.D.
Dr. Howell obtained his PhD from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. His mentor at UF is Dr. Eduardo Candelario-Jalil.
Dr. Howell is interested in studying neuroinflammation following ischemic stroke.
Oihane Uriarte Huarte, Ph.D.
Dr. Uriarte Huarte obtained her Ph.D. from University of Luxembourg. Her primary mentor is Malú Tansey, Ph.D.
Dr. Uriarte Huarte is interested in how the immune system influences neurodegenerative diseases, focusing mainly on Parkinson’s disease.
Kelly Menees, Ph.D.
Dr. Menees received her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia under the mentorship of Dr. Jae-Kyung ‘Jamise’ Lee.
Dr. Menees studies the role of the immune system and the gut-brain axis in Parkinson’s disease.
Andrea Merchak, Ph.D.
Dr. Merchak obtained her PhD from the University of Virginia under the mentorship of Dr. Alban Gaultier.
Dr. Merchak studies the interplay between the gut microbiome, the immune system and the brain in neurodegenerative disease.
Rebecca Wallings, Ph.D.
Dr. Wallings obtained her Ph.D. from Oxford University. Her primary mentor is Malú Tansey, Ph.D.
Dr. Wallings studies the role of the lysosome in dysregulation of the immune system in neurodegenerative diseases and identifying lysome-specific therapeutic targets.
PostDoc Fellow Bio
Alumni
Kelly DeMars, Ph.D.
Dr. DeMars obtained her Ph.D. from University of Florida. Her primary mentor is Jeremy McIntyre, Ph.D.
Dr. DeMars is interested in how the brain coordinates its metabolism with different peripheral states.
Nicholas DiCola, Ph.D.
Dr. DiCola obtained his Ph.D. from University of Florida. His primary mentors are Sara Burke, Ph.D. and Andrew Mauer, Ph.D.
Dr. Dicola is interested in the function changes to the hippocampus of aged rats.
Mojdeh Faraji, Ph.D.
Dr. Faraji obtained her Ph.D. from Georgia Tech University. Her primary mentors are Jen Bizon, Ph.D. & Barry Setlow, Ph.D.
Dr. Faraji studies the long-term effects of reproductive experience on decision making in rodent models.
Assistant professor, rosAlind franklin medical school
Sarah Johnson, Ph.D.
Dr. Johnson completed a postdoctoral fellowship under the primary mentorship on Dr. Sara Burke from 2015-2020. During her time at UF, Dr. Johnson successfully competed for a K99/R00 focused on determining the role of declining novelty signals in memory dysfunction associated with aging.
Carly N. Logan, Ph.D.
Dr. Logan obtained her Ph.D. from University of Florida. Her primary mentor is Sara Burke, Ph.D.
Dr. Logan studies the dysregulation of glucose and neurotransmitter signaling it relates to disorders and disease.
assistant professor, university of South Carolina medical school
Joe McQuail, Ph.D.
Dr. McQuail received his Ph.D. from Wake Forest University. He then completed his postdoctoral training at UF with Dr. Jen Bizon , funded by an F32 postdoctoral fellowship. After being promoted to an assistant research professor at UF (2019-2020), he received a K01 to investigate the role of stress associated epigenetic mechanisms in age-related memory decline.
Assistant professor, UNiversity of texas austin
Caitlin Orsini, Ph.D.
Dr. Orsini received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship under the primary mentorship of Drs. Barry Setlow and Jen Bizon from 2013-2020. During her time at UF, she successfully competed for a K99/R00 focused on using ontogenetic approaches to determine how circuits associated with the basolateral amygdala impact risk taking and contribute to substance use disorders.
Sakthivel Ravi, Ph.D.
Dr. Ravi obtained his Ph.D. from Alagappa University, India. His primary mentor is Dr. Jose F. Abisambra.
Dr. Ravi’s research focuses on the molecular association between mild repetitive traumatic brain injury, tau and ER stress.
